The maritime action vessel P-42 'Rayo' begins participation in Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations

• The Navy ship will carry out a surveillance and security patrol in maritime areas under national sovereignty.

The Maritime Action Ship 'Rayo' (P-42), belonging to the Maritime Action Force, which reports to the Canary Islands Naval Command and is based at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Arsenal, has set sail to participate in a maritime surveillance mission in the waters of the Canary Islands archipelago, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea.

The ship will call at the port of Motril (Granada) on 7 and 8 October, where it will be available for its visit.

The objective of the mission that the 'Rayo' is undertaking is to contribute to guaranteeing the security of maritime areas of national interest within the framework of the Armed Forces' Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations, integrated into the Maritime Operational Command and under the operational control of the Operations Command .

Among the missions assigned during its patrol is the contribution to Maritime Environment Awareness (MEA), an enabling element for the rest of the operations and Maritime Security Operations (MSO), which constitute the specific actions against threats and illegal acts that endanger security in the maritime environment.

The P-42 ‘Rayo’

The Rayo is the second in the series of four maritime action ships under the Canary Islands Naval Command, based at the Las Palmas Arsenal, designed to carry out maritime security missions, protection of national maritime interests and control of areas of sovereignty and national interest, as well as missions in collaboration with State Security Forces and Corps at sea, such as operations against drug trafficking or terrorism. They also carry out maritime traffic control and protection missions; surveillance and control of fishing and the fight against maritime pollution.

The Rayo has a crew of 41 men and ten women. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Oscar Santiago Golmayo Diufain.

Maritime Action Force 

The MAF, integrated into the FLEET, is made up of the set of units whose main task is to prepare to protect international maritime interests and the control of maritime spaces of national sovereignty and interest, taking charge, with a comprehensive approach, of ensuring permanent cooperation with the various government bodies with responsibilities in the maritime field, which constitutes the Navy's contribution to the State's Action at Sea.

Maritime Operational Command

The Maritime Operational Command is the body of the operational structure of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of Defence Staff responsible, at his level, for planning, conducting and monitoring permanent surveillance and security operations in maritime areas of sovereignty, responsibility and national interest. It is under the command of the Admiral of Maritime Action and is based in Cartagena.

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations

Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations are an effective tool for maintaining surveillance of sovereign spaces, enabling early detection of threats and facilitating an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis.

The Land, Maritime, Aerospace and Cyberspace  Operational Commands make up the Permanent Command structure. On a daily basis, some 3,000 Armed Forces personnel are involved in such operations under the operational control of the Operations Command.